Window valance



A. B. HOFFHEIMER Er AL 1,952,069

WINDOW VALANCE' March 27, 1934.

Fil ed May 5, 1933 32 6, aynzwa, 0% 2124/444 Patented Mar. 27, 1934 This invention relates to improvements in window valances, a term used in interior decorating to designate a narrow strip e 7 head of a Window to conceal 5 tions of the drapes and to 0 artistic effect. A valance neces with the drapes or hangings a made of or covered by the same ma valances may be made decorative strip or panel so that it stands ow frame, and provides the r other hangings. lso made adjustable lengthlfit windows of difierent widths, necessity of having them made of each window in lest form of adjustde up of two or more telelswith the edges of one the back of another truction for valance herein f telescoping panels, nner which overcomes he more common he chief of which is the h decorative touches as ruffles running along the edges. As tation of these ace decoration and a consed garishness in an effort to ghtly appearance 0 The improved cons disclosed utilizes the idea 0 but does so in a novel ma certain objections to t adjustable valance inability to use suc and other forms of tri a result the ornamen valances has been confined to surf quent tendency towar counteract the unsi The novel features of th therefore, permit of a more flexible tre ter adaptability in carrying tive efiects, all ofwhich in connection with the ded the accompanying drawferred embodiment of the e improved valance,

and, therefore, a grea out the desired (1 will be more apparent scription to follow an ing illustrating a pre invention, wherein Figure 1 is a perspec valance as it appears Figure 2 is a view 0 elevation with the pane Figure 3 is a view sim the panels fully extended;-

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on line 4-4 Figure 5 is an one end portion of Figure 6 is an en inner end portion 0 As shown in Figure to extend across the top of a win tive view of a window if the same valance in rear ls retracted; ilar to Figure 2, showing view in vertical of Figure 2;

d perspective view of the central panel; and larged perspective view of the f one of the end panels.

1, the valance is mounted dew and sup- UNITED STATES parser curios WINDOW VALANCE Arthur B. Hofiheimer and Sidney M. Kaufman,

Chicago, Ill. Application May 3, 1933, Serial No. 669,118

ports the side drapes 1 by means of a rod 2 concealed behind the valance. So far as the construction of the valance is visible, it appears to be made up of three sections, namely, a center panel 3 and two end panels 4, 4, the former being 5 shorter and somewhat wider than the endpanels, although all sections maybe of' equal width with only transverse lines to indicate the division between them.

The surfaces of the panels are preferably plain except for the color which may be the same as that of the drapes or harmonizing with it. The surface covering may be fabric, paper or other color coating, although surface ornamentation may be used if desired. Along the lower edges 7 of the panels are lengths of trimming 5 in the form of a narrow strip ofvmaterial or fabric plaited or rufiled and attached so as to conceal the lower edges of the panels. The material of the edge trimming may be a plain or figured fabric and whether it is of a contrasting or harmonizing color depends on the effect sought to be obtained. In any event it appreciably softens the line of the bottom edge of the valance and otherwise enhances the appearance of the ensemble. .80 As already indicated, the valance is made up of three sections or panels preferably made of a light composition board of ample thickness to afiord a substantial construction. The inner portions of the end panels 4, 4 have overlapping and endwise sliding connection with the center panel 3, and at theouter end of each end panel is fixed a block 6 extending edgewise and rearwardly therefrom, said blocks being preferably rectangular pieces of wood, say, one (1) inch in thickness, having the same height as that of the panels and a width equal to distance the valance is to be spaced from the upper part of the window, say, four (4) or five (5) inches. Extending across the back of the center panel 3 and along its upper edge is fastened a track member 7 having a flange 7 along its lower edge and spaced from the surface of the panel to form a groove to receive the upper edges of the end panels and suppor them in sliding connection therewith.

The lower edges of the end panels, however, do not have sliding connection with the central panel by means of the simple telescoping groove and edge arrangement used at the upper edges,

but rather by a flexibly mounted track member 8 engaged by the 'rails 9, 9 fastened to the back of the end panels. Thus as shown in Figure 5, the track member 9 is spaced away from the back of the central panel, being preferably an- :members to its section to edge portion of another section to pass freely be- ;neath it.

chored at a point midway between its ends by nails passing through the track member and the end of a transverse reinforcing cleat 10 extending between the upper and lower track members and serving as a stop member to limit the inward sliding movement of the end panels as shown in Figure 2. The end portions of the track member 8 are secured to the panel by means of a pair of U-shaped metal strips 11, 11 fastened at one end at or near the free ends of its track member, and at their other ends to the lower edge of the panel, the portion between their ends forming loops which clear the lower edges of the end panels as well as the trimming attached thereto.

On the back of each end panel is fastened a thin strip of wood 9 extending parallel with the lower edge and spaced therefrom a distance of an inch or so. These strips form rails or track members and are preferably cut with rabbets along their bottom edges to provide narrow flanges 9 lying against the surface of each panel and extending downwardly toward the bottom edges thereof.

To assemble the sections of the valance, the inner ends of the end panels are inserted endwise between the track members 7 and8 of the center panel, their upper edges engaging grooves formed by the track member 8 and the rails 9, 9 bearing edgewise upon the flexibly mounted lower track member 7 through the medium of the interlocking flanges 7 and 9 thereby holding the panels in their .respective planes.

By this arrangement, the lower edges of the end panels slide freely against the back -of the center panel and are not confined within grooves as in the case :of the upper edges, and thus permits the trimming :5 to be appliedalong the lower edges of the end panels without interfering with the adjustability, or to put it a .difierent way, it permits an adjustable valance to be trimmed along its lower edge, inasmuch as the panels can be shifted with the trimming in place.

Manifestly the upper edge of the valance might .also be treated in the samelnanner as the lower edge, if desired, in which case the same arrangement of track members and rails would be used at the top as well as at the bottom of the panel.

In the mounting of the valance to the window frame, ordinary screw eyes 12 .are inserted ,in

the inner faces .of the end pieces 6, and these engage hooks screwed into the window frame.

These end pieces .also serve to support the ends of the rod 2 carrying the drapes, as already mentioned in connection with Figure .1, and thus take the placeof brackets fastened to the window trim such as are ordinarily used for thispurpose. Thus by slotting the innerfaces ofthe end pieces 6, upwardly opening recesses 6 .6 are formed to receive the ends of one or more rods spaced apart transversely of the space between the valance and the window-trim.

Having set forth a preferred embodiment of our invention, we claim:

;l. A valance for windows and the like, comprising a plurality of telescoping sections extensible lengthwise, said sections havingcontactingtrack members extending lengthwise thereof and spaced inwardly from one of their longitudinal edges, and means for fastening one of said track permit the adjacent like, comprising a panels adapted for wise thereof and spaced inwardly from one of its longitudinal edges, a track member mounted on the other section in alignment with said rail and spaced from the surface thereof to permit the adjacent edge portion of the first mentioned section to slide freely between said track member and the surface of its section.

4. A valance for :windows and the'like, comprising ;a plurality of telescoping asectionsextensible lengthwise, one of said sections having a rail fastened .on its back surface and extending lengthwise thereof and spaced inwardly from one of its longitudinal edges, and .a track member mounted ,on the back of the other section .and spaced from the surface thereoflsaid :rail and track member being adapted to haveedge to edge sliding contact, thereby permitting the free cverlapping sliding contact of adjacent marginal portions of said sections.

5. A valance for windowsand the like, comprising a plurality of telescoping sections extensible lengthwise, one of said :sectionsihaving .a rail fas- I.

tened on its back surface and extending lengthwise thereof and spaced inwardlyfrom one of its longitudinal edges, atrack member mounted on the back of the other section and means for securing said track member in spaced relation to a track membermounted on :thebacklof the other panel alignment with said rail, and -U-sh-aped 1 track supporting members connecting the ends of the track :member with the-adjacent edge of its panel and clearing the corresponding edge of the first mentioned panel.

7. Anadjustable valance for windows and the central panel and two end ,endwise sliding connection with said'central panel, a rail secured fiatwise to the back of each of said end panels and extendin lengthwise thereof adjacent one of their longitudinal edges, a track member mounted on the back -,of said central panel and having edgewise sliding contact with said-rail,-andmetal U-shaped strips connecting the ends of said track member with the adjacent edgesrof its section and adapted to support said track member in spaced relation to its section and to clear the adjacent edges of the end panels.

ARTHUR B. HOFFHEIMER. IDNEYM. 

